His Majesty King Abdullah’s meeting on Wednesday with Muslim and Christian religious leaders from Jerusalem and Jordan reaffirmed Jordan’s historic and enduring role in protecting Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites.

 

As Jerusalem faces rising violations and attempts to change its religious and historical status, the Hashemite Custodianship continues to serve as a stabilising force and a protective umbrella.

 

The concerns voiced during the meeting by Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, about a mounting existential threat to the Christian presence in the region is a testament from the heart of the Holy Land that what is happening is a continuous attempt at reshaping the city’s religious, historical and legal character.

 

Patriarch Theophilos III highlighted that the Hashemite Custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in the Holy Land continues as a force for good and a fundamental pillar for achieving balance in times of uncertainty and challenges.

 

The patriarch expressed Christians’ grave concern of the erosion of the historic arrangements of the status quo and extremist groups’ disturbing violations against Al Aqsa Mosque, underscoring that any threat to Muslim holy places is a threat to Christian holy places, in a shared insistencethat Jerusalem’s sanctity is indivisible.

 

Warnings from Jerusalem Awqaf Council President and Director of Jerusalem Awqaf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Azzam Al Khatib about escalating Israeli attacks in Jerusalem necessitate action, as silence in the face of such violations emboldens extremists and threaten not only religious freedoms, but also the historical and legal integrity of the sites.

 

Al Khatib highlighted the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem, which dates back to the Pact of Umar, and thanked the King for his keenness to maintain outreach to Muslim and Christian religious figures.

 

Wednesday’s meeting also emphasised the connection between Jerusalem and Gaza. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal PierbattistaPizzaballa, conveyed the appreciation of Gaza’s Christian community for His Majesty’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, indicating that the King’s Custodianship not only protects the buildings and physical structures of holy sites, but also its people and communities who sustain them.

 

Against this backdrop and as Archbishop Hussam Naoum observed, the Hashemite Custodianship remains a safety valve for Palestinians, Muslims and Christians alike, helping them remain steadfast in their land and holy sites.

 

In a period marked by escalating tensions and ideological extremism, this role is more vital than ever. As Jerusalem approaches major religious milestones in the coming years, the Custodianship continues to serve not only Jordan and Palestine, but the broader international interest in preserving Jerusalem as a city of faith, diversity and coexistence.